Coca Cola opens new Education Centre in Milton Keynes

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has launched of a brand new Education Centre at its Milton Keynes site. With an investment of over £800,000 the centre underlines the company’s continued commitment to youth development.

The opening marks a total of £4million invested by CCE in its national education programme since 2011 which to date has reached over 300,000 young people.

The new facility at Milton Keynes is CCE’s sixth Education Centre across Great Britain. On officially opening the centre Hubert Patricot, Executive Vice President for CCE in Europe, said: “At Coca-Cola Enterprises we are extremely proud of the work our award-winning education programme has done to bring the worlds of business and education closer together. Today’s announcement of our investment milestone is proof of our recognition of the importance of highlighting the career opportunities available across the sector, whilst providing valuable insight into our business and the wider industry.

“This latest addition to our Education Centre initiative in Milton Keynes forms part of our ongoing commitment to the development of young people throughout Great Britain to inspire the next generation of engineers.”

Free and open to students aged 12 and above, this new facility aims to host over 200 visits per year, reaching more than 4,000 students from local secondary schools, colleges and universities.

Each centre is run by a General Teaching Council registered teacher, employed full-time by Coca-Cola Enterprises, and gives students a unique opportunity to develop their knowledge of the world of work, making connections between what they learn in the classroom and real-life modern manufacturing practices.

Mark Lancaster MP, commented: “The investment committed in the Education Centre will deliver sustainable career opportunities for future generations and I am delighted that a strong partnership will develop between our schools, businesses and local community in Milton Keynes.”

Iain Stewart MP, added: “Coca-Cola Enterprises have been able to create an environment that will give students a real insight and a real experience of all areas of manufacturing. This investment is very much welcomed and I hope to hear great things from students over the coming years.”